Nearly Licensed

I talked to Agency Worker yesterday, and she had some questions that came back from the lady that is working on our licensing. Nothing major, just little things they wanted to clear up about how we might handle certain situations, like eating. We eat VERY healthy around our house, and they wanted to make sure that we would not force the girls to give up all the foods they love and to instead eat things they didn't like. I assured them that I understood it wouldn't be a good idea to force my eating habits on the girls. Any and all changes will be made gradually.

Isn't it sad that healthy eating is considered a BAD thing in our society?? What a terrible parent I am... :p

I told Agency Worker about our visit with the girls, and that we were interested in pursuing adopting them. She still doesn't have any information from their CPS caseworker. She doesn't know when CPS will have the girls ready for adoption. For now I am content, because we haven't finished our training and can't take them anyway. But after October 1st, my patience may start to run out. Not that it will do me any good, because I have no control over any of this. I've done my part and that's all I can do.

SIGH...Comment Spam

Okay, I hate to do this, but I've turned on word verification for comments. My last post had TEN comment spams. After deleting all of those, I decided to go ahead and turn it on. I haven't wanted to because I really enjoy getting everyone's comments. Please continue to comment. Hopefully I'll be able to turn it off at some point when the spammers get tired of ruining everyone's fun.

Check out this article: Blog Search Engine Threatens Ban of Blogger Blogs

We Met Them

On Saturday, we drove an hour to Foster Mom's house. It was a nice neighborhood, and we were pleased to see that the girls have a nice house to live in. When we pulled up in front of the house, I opened the car door and started to bound out, and then suddenly shut the door again. I looked at DH and took his hand, and he read my mind and said "Do you want to pray first?" I nodded and we did. We walked up to the door and rang the bell, and Foster Mom’s adult daughter answered the door. She introduced us to her sister and told us that Foster Mom had gone to the store and that they do respite for her. Then she told us the kids were in the playroom. I took DH’s hand and we walked together into the room. There were six kids sitting in various chairs and on the floor. There was a table for drawing, coloring, etc., and a TV and a daybed along with the chairs and couch. There were FIVE girls and a boy. I had thought that I would walk into the room and instantly know which ones they were, because I had been told what they look like, even though I’d never seen a picture of them. But I had no idea at all. Foster Mom’s daughter introduced them one at a time: Lulu, Peanut, Kitten & Tiger. (Not their real names) Then she pointed to the last two who were sitting on the floor, Girl1 & Girl2. They were playing cards. They looked up at us, then ran over and said “Want to play Go Fish?” We were a bit taken aback, but after meeting eyes, we said “Sure we will!” So the four of us sat down at the table and started playing. I could barely pay attention to the game, because I kept drinking in the sight of them. It was a very surreal experience. Girl1 taught us her rules, which were a little different than how you normally play. I didn’t care one bit. The other kids started interacting with us too, and also with the girls. A few minutes into our game, everyone was yelling and jumping around, and someone turned on the TV, and it got quite chaotic. I hoped that it wouldn’t be like that for the entire three hours. We were both a bit overwhelmed, but shortly after that Foster Mom got home and took over. The TV got turned down to a reasonable level and the kids settled down. One of the first things Girl1 said was “Jesus wept.” She asked us if we knew why, and I said why? She said it was because he had to die for our sins and he was sad. I can tell that someone is teaching her about Jesus and we are very glad. It was so sweet to see both of them talking about Jesus. Girl1 decided to show us her picture album. There were various pictures from when she went to camp in June, and then one of her & Girl2 and their brother with their birth parents. Girl1 said “That’s a picture of us with our mom & dad. We’re not ever going to see them again.” Then after a pause, “We’re going to be adopted.” She stated these things with no emotion whatsoever. I felt tears spring into my eyes. There was a four year old boy there who took to me right away. He kept patting me and telling me that he loved me. He told me that I was pretty and he wanted me to come back. He wanted to share my chair and sit on my lap. I wasn’t sure if it was okay for him to sit on my lap (CPS rules) so mostly he just sat next to me. Girl1 had a little notebook and she tore some paper out and drew a picture on it. She drew four stick figures, and said that they were DH, me, Girl2 & her. At the top she drew a stick figure and said that was God, and she drew some clouds under him. She made one for DH and one for me, and gave them to me to take home. DH and I were both on the verge of tears, just sitting there with them. I kept swallowing around the huge lump in my throat. Eventually, DH went to sit in the armchair and I stayed at the table. Girl1 followed him and sat in a little chair, and challenged him to a game of tic tac toe. One of the older girls sat at the table with Girl2 & me and brought paper and colored pencils for drawing. Girl2 offered me some paper. She wanted me to color with her. She said that she would draw a picture and I should copy her, so that’s what we did. I told her that when we were finished we should trade and I would keep the one she drew and she could keep the one I drew. She thought that was a good idea. She wrote on it, To: Stacy From: Girl2 and she wrote “I love you” on it with a heart. I wrote the same thing on hers. The paper I left for her is probably already lost or thrown away by now, but hers made it safely home with me. Across the room, I noticed that Girl1 had brought DH her headset and explained that the batteries were dead. DH looked at it, and then he got his little flashlight that he wears on his belt. Then he got out his “everything” tool that he also wears on his belt and took the back off the headset. He proceeded to exchange his flashlight batteries for her dead ones. At this point I was nearly in tears, just watching them. Girl1 put the headset on and started singing along to a song only she could hear “God has a plan for my life, God has a plan for my life”. DH and I looked at each other and both of our eyes were brimming with tears. Yes, Girl1, sweet girl, God definitely has a plan for your life. Sometime after that Foster Mom called all the kids into the kitchen for lunch. Girl1 said that she wasn’t hungry. I think she wanted to stay in the playroom with DH and me. Foster Mom insisted that she eat, so she went to the table. Girl2 noticed that we had followed along behind them, and asked us sweetly if we would like to sit down. We told her no, to go on and eat. Foster Mom asked us to join her in the playroom, and we discussed all we knew about the situation. Foster Mom really liked us and said that she hoped the girls could join our family. She felt that we were a good match. Later while drawing again with Girl2, she asked me if I could stay longer. Then she said she wished we could spend the night. I told her that I was sorry but we couldn’t. Then she asked me if we would come back sometime. I told her that we probably would. When our time was up, Girl2 gave me a hug, and Girl1 gave DH a hug. We talked to Foster Mom for a little while at the door, and we all promised to pray for each other. She’s a very sweet lady and a strong believer. She said she would call her CPS worker this week and recommend us. I don’t know if that will make any difference one way or the other but I appreciated her vote of confidence. When we got into the car, we were both overwhelmed by the strong emotions we felt. We interacted with all six children while we were there. Honestly, if I was able and our house was big enough, I’d be willing to take every one of them. My heart was broken. They were all so sweet. I know now beyond a shadow of a doubt that I’m ready for this. If the girls are offered to us, we will adopt them. I had a lot of questions before I met them as to how I would feel. There was no instant bond, nothing like I felt with the babies. However, I have no doubt that it would grow quickly if I was assured that they were going to be mine. I fell a little bit in love with all six of them. The only difference I felt is because I knew that the girls were the ones available to us. I’ve had them on my mind a lot since then. October can’t come fast enough. Whether it is these girls or other children that God has for us, I am ready and so is DH. That was confirmed for me on Saturday.

Less than Five Hours

Wow. I can't believe it. I'm meeting them today. I hope they like me. I hope they like DH. I hope we like them.

I have some things to do today to keep me busy until we leave, so that's good. I don't know what else to say. Wow.

I've decided to look at it as if I'm meeting my children today. If it works out to be different, I'll deal with that then. I don't want to ruin a potentially momentous day by looking at it casually. Happy dance!

I'll try to blog about how it went when we get back, if I have a chance. I'm going to see a play tonight with my cousin so I'll have to get ready soon after we get home. Ohhhhhh, I hope it goes well today.

Just One More Day

In a little more than twenty-four hours, I'll be meeting the girls. It will only be an observation time at the foster-mom's house, and the girls will have no idea that we are interested in becoming their parents. I think that is a good thing. I know that they are still trying to come to terms with the fact that they won't ever be going back home.

I feel excitement, fear, and a terrible sadness. The excitement comes from the part of me that wants more children, and wants to love them and raise them and provide a good Godly home for them. I think the fear is really just fear of the unknown. Meeting them will make them real people to me, instead of just names and descriptions. The terrible sadness come from knowing what kinds of things have happened to them in the past, and from imagining all the things I don't even know about yet.

How can someone hurt a child? A child is dependent on you from the moment they are born. How can someone betray that trust? We were taught in training that we should not feel anger at the birth parents, because they are sick. I think that will be very hard for me to do when I see their sweet little faces, knowing that none of what happened to them is their fault, and knowing how much hurt and pain they have experienced in their short lives.

In the bible, Jesus felt righteous anger and overturned a few tables in the temple and called the men there thieves. I feel like overturning a few tables myself, on behalf of all the children out there that have been victimized. How I wish I could help them all. I heard a great saying that I'll repeat here:

"I may not be able to save the whole world, but I can save one child's world." And in my case, I guess that's two.

Rock Band

Remember my son who didn't want to take guitar lessons, and I MADE him? Well yesterday he was singing a different tune. He called me when he got home from school, so excited because he and three others have decided to start a rock band. It's just so cute. There are two eleven year olds, a twelve year old and a thirteen year old. They have a drummer, a bass player, a singer, and Son will be the guitar player. They are going to practice every Thursday night for an hour (not at my house, and I have mixed feelings about that) and tonight is their first night.

It was so cute to hear him on the phone last night. He was asking his friend (the other eleven year old) about the thirteen year old because he has never met him. He wanted to know if he was a "bad" kid. And then my son proceeded to lay down the law, that there would be no cussing while he was there, and it wouldn't be one of those "scream" bands or he wouldn't be in it.

I don't think any of the other boys are Christians, but I don't know for sure. My son asked me this morning if I thought this opportunity came up so that he could lead them to the Lord. I told him that could definitely be the case and that he should invite them to church with us on Wednesday nights. We have a great program for kids and youth, and my daughter frequently brings her friends.

I'm so excited for him. It is such a blessing to see God at work in my kids' lives.

Not Frantic

My friend Asparagus said "calm down and listen for that small, quiet voice...".

I'm really not as frantic as it might seem. It's just hard to talk about the subject because there are so many unknowns. I'm not thinking about it constantly or going crazy worrying. Mostly I'm just going on with life and handling each new day as it comes.

But I also feel a "wow" when I think about Saturday, because I know that it could turn out to be "the day I met my kids". Or then again, it may not.

Only time will tell. And I will be listening for that small, quiet voice.

Three More Days

Cindy asked: "What are your expectations? I mean, what do you expect to think and feel when you meet them?"

I've thought a lot about this, and I really don't know the answer. I love children. I desperately love my own children. Will there be an instant connection? Will I cry? I don't know.

When my two children were born, there was an immediate, intense rush of love for them, an overwhelming need to protect them, and a huge weight of responsibility. Will I feel anything similar to this when I meet these girls? I just don't know. For one thing, I have no assurances at this point that I will even be able to adopt them. There is still the possibility that some unknown relative will pop out of the woodwork to claim them. Or, that CPS will go so slowly that I'll simply give up and move on to adopt children that are ready now. I don't want to get emotionally entangled and then not be able to adopt them.

On the other hand, I know that there is a good chance that we will be able to adopt them. And we'll be meeting them on Saturday. And this could be the first day of the rest of our lives with them. And that maybe I'll watch them be baptised after they accept Christ. That maybe I'll be there watching them walk across the stage when they graduate. That maybe I'll be there arranging their veils when they get married. That maybe someday I'll hold their children and they'll call me Grandma.

It's just so hard not knowing. Pray that God will give me peace and patience.

Four More Days

Cindy asked: HOw many days before you meet them?

The answer is in the title. I will meet the girls in four days. FOUR DAYS. I'm nervous, and my emotions are so mixed up. It's hard to know what to feel.

I don't know if these are the children God has picked out for us. I prayed last night that He would make it very clear when we meet them on Saturday. I can't imagine what would make us say NO to them, so I'm sure it's mostly just fear of the unknown. This is just such a strange event to take place in one's life. How many times have I gone to meet children and determine if I want to adopt them? Um, never. Do I even know anyone that has done such a thing? NO. Even my friends who have adopted didn't participate in this particular activity, because they adopted from overseas and their babies were just assigned to them. Just like a birth, you take what you get.

It's hard to know about the girls, but not be able to take care of them. If they are going to be mine, then in a way they are already mine. Does that make sense? And if they are mine, I'm supposed to be taking care of them, feeding and clothing them, raising them and teaching them about God. It's hard to wait for the government to get out of the way so I can start helping my kids!

I've known about these girls for months now. I think that makes it harder. I think that most people even in my situation hear about kids and then make a decision to submit a homestudy and if they are selected, they meet them shortly thereafter.

I think that adopting children this way is similar to getting married. You choose a child, like choosing a mate. It's just weird. I'll be glad when we are past this part, and the kids have been chosen, even if they haven't moved in yet. I just want to know.

Details

I just talked to Agency Worker . She is working on completing our home study, and she forgot to ask a few questions along the way. She also needed to tell me that all medications and household cleaners need to be locked up. Also missing were the vaccinations for the cats that I faxed a couple of months ago. Not much left. She will be calling my references today.

I asked her about how the licensing worked, because I've been hearing nightmare stories from my blogger friends. I found out that once the home study is typed, they send it to an independent contractor who works for the state, and then we will be licensed in a couple of days! That sounds much different from some of the other agencies I've heard about.

She told me that we will be licensed for basic needs children, and then when we complete our training they will send in a home study update to get us licensed for therapeutic needs children.

So! I'm excited that we will be licensed soon. There still isn't any news about the girls, but Agency Worker feels that we should know something at least by the end of the month. She also said that if the birth parents appeal(ed) the termination, we could probably still get the girls as a foster-to-adopt placement. I think it is already too late for them to appeal, but they may have done it before the deadline and we just don't know about it.

Either way, we're getting closer. I like progress. And I get to meet them in NINE days.

Oh! And this morning Son said, "Mom, you should have made Daughter be in band." !!!

No news

I emailed Agency Worker today, and there is no news on the girls. Waiting is boring. I want news. On the bright side, I get to meet them in just TEN days. I feel both excitement and trepidation. I have lots of fears running through my mind. What if we meet them and don't like them? What if I like them and DH doesn't? What if we fall in love with them, but have to wait months and months before they can come home with us?

And I really hate the thought of choosing children. They aren't puppies in a puppy store. They are human beings, created by God, and each one of them deserves a good home. One way that giving birth to your child is far superior to this, is that God just drops off the bundle he wants you to have, and there aren't any decisions to be made. That's your child. But now I have a choice. I don't want to have to choose. I want to take them all! But that's not realistic. We can't provide for all of them, physically or emotionally. But how on earth am I supposed to choose? I pray that God will make it very obvious. Otherwise, I don't know how I'll do it.

Should I Make Him?

As a parent, there are lots of hard decisions to be made. I started out thinking that I would never make my kids be involved in anything they didn't want to, because as a child I hated that. But what if you go along never forcing them to do anything, and then as a result, they never DO ANYTHING?

That is what I found myself facing with my son. He loves computer games and Nintendo and watching TV. I do require him to read at least ten minutes a day, but that is educational, and most of the time he'll read longer than that once he gets started. He isn't interested in sports but he does enjoy playing outside if he has a friend over.

Anyway, I decided to force him to be in band this year. He wasn't happy about it, but I told him that I wanted him to do it for a year, and then if he really hated it he could quit next year. So he sullenly agreed to do it. Then he found out that most of his friends were going to be in band, and he got more excited about it. Yesterday he came home from his first day of school and said that band is FUN! Insert huge sigh of relief from me, HERE.

I wanted the kids to not be so bored this summer, so I started them in music lessons. Daughter wanted to learn to play the piano, and Son was NOT INTERESTED. We have a guitar and a keyboard at home. I told Son that he was required to take guitar lessons, and again, he was not excited. However, he expressed a desire to have an electric guitar. I told him that if he learns to play the acoustic guitar and does well that I will buy him an electric guitar. He hasn't been very excited about lessons and practice, so I wasn't sure how hard he was trying since I'm usually at work when he practices. However, I was pleasantly surprised at his lesson yesterday to hear how much he has improved. I told him last night how well he is doing and that I was so proud of him.

I talked to him this morning before he left for school, and asked him if he remembered to practice his guitar. He said yes, and told me that it was FUN to practice!

So my conclusion to the above question is, sometimes, yes, you have to make them.

First Day of School

Daughter and Son started back to school today. They were both excited and nervous. Son was talking 90 miles an hour! I'm happy for them, because I know that the summer was getting boring toward the end. There are always a lot of adjustments when school starts, so I'm sure we have a busy week ahead.

A part of me is sad, because I really wanted the girls to be able to start school with us today too. They started last Monday. I'm frustrated with the wait. Patience isn't one of my strongpoints when I want something done.

Strange: A friend of mine told her boyfriend that I wanted to adopt, and he said, "Why? Isn't she happy with the family she has?" What a strange thought. If someone had two children and got pregnant to have a third would he ask that? I don't know, I just thought that was strange, and I was kind of offended. I think it would be more likely that I wouldn't want more children if I didn't like the ones I had! I've always wanted a large family, and due to circumstances being what they are now, adoption is the best expansion plan for us. Some people really have strange thoughts about adoption.

A Great Day

I had such a wonderful time with my daughter on Friday. For her birthday, I took her to a makeup artist, Stephanie, for a consultation. Stephanie spent 4 1/2 hours with her, teaching her about cleansers and shading and hair...it was a very girlie day and we had a great time. Then I took her for a haircut and we shopped for the products Stephanie recommended.

I think it was a great gift for a fifteen year old girl. It was also quite out of character for me. I've taught Daughter all her life that true beauty comes from within, and that outer beauty fades away. Therefore, I had to have a talk with her on the way, not to spoil the fun, but just to reiterate one more time that it's fine to do the best you can with what you have physically, but to always remember that the outside isn't nearly so important as the inside.

It was also fun to just have a girlie day. We spent the whole day together. No boys at all. :)

A Child's Mind

My wonderful father-in-law gave us a 60 inch TV last weekend, and a 20 inch one with a built in VCR and DVD player. Since my mother-in-law was moved into the nursing home, they were just sitting in his house collecting dust, and he knew how much we could use them. Daughter had an 18 year old 19" TV in her room that we were planning to pass down to Son, and we were planning to give the 25" we had in the den to her. But when we found out there was a 20" with a DVD player available, we offered it first to Daughter since she is the oldest. She preferred to go ahead and take the 25" and Son cas got the 20". It is really perfect for him, because it has hookups on the front for his Nintendo too.

Anyway, now that you have the background...Last night Son asked me if I thought God had allowed him to get the new TV because he had agreed to the adoption (he was very reluctant at first.) I told him that God does bless us when we are unselfish, and that it was quite possible that the TV was a gift from God. I thought it was really sweet that he was giving God the credit for the good things that are happening to him in his life.

By the way, I just talked to the girls' foster mom! We have scheduled the observation on August 27th in the afternoon. That means I get to meet them in 17 days! She doesn't know yet that we are the ones that are interested in the girls. Agency Worker thought it best that she be the one to tell her. She said that Foster Mom is a wonderful sweet lady, but that the news just might be better coming from her since Foster Mom is attached to the girls.

I'm a bit in shock...I can't believe I'm finally going to meet them. It's ON THE SCHEDULE.

Concurrent Pathways & Fluctuating Emotions

I wonder where my children are. I know where Daughter and Son are...but I wonder where the rest of them are? I wonder what they are doing right now, right this minute. Are they about to have lunch? Did they sleep well last night? Has anyone taught them to say their prayers? Did they take a bath before bed? Did they have a tummy ache? What do they look like?

I don't know if the girls will be mine, or if God has someone else in mind for me. I do know that we are taking extra training so that we will be able to even be considered for the youngest girl, and I do know that we can't take that training until October 1 (assuming it doesn't get rescheduled again!) I do know that God is in control, and that we won't miss the opportunity to parent the children that are meant for us.

It's hard to have so many unknowns and to feel so out of control in the process. Agency Worker warned me that "the system" is like a snake, contorting and changing directions and that you have to be able to bend with it. I understand what she meant. Thoroughly. And of course, I didn't take her all that seriously at the time she said it.

Those girls are on a pathway that may cross mine or may not. Their termination hearing took place on July 11th, but their biological parents have 30 days to appeal the judge's decision. That means they only have two more days. However, it does NOT mean that I will know whether they appealed or not in just two days. It could take much longer. That much I have learned about this contorting snake called "the system". If their parents do appeal, it could mean many more months before they are available to be adopted. It is possible that they could still be moved to our house in the meantime until everything is finalized, or it could be that CPS will want them to stay in their current foster home until then. Even if the parents don't appeal, I don't know how long it takes for CPS to get them ready for adoption. I really have NO idea.

So even though we will not be ready for them until October 1, it may not matter because the girls may not be ready for us either. Who knows? I've become a bit ambivalent because I really have no control over anything that is happening. I really wanted the girls before school started, but that was impossible, and I don't want to set any other goals at this point. I kind of hope we get them before Christmas, but maybe even that is asking too much.

I'm holding on to this: Romans 8:28 - And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Fifteen

My beautiful daughter is 15 today. I remember exactly how I felt the day she was born. I was awestruck that God had blessed me with such a magnificent gift. She had lots of dark hair and was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen in my life. She slept in a little plexiglass bed next to mine, while I lay awake all night just staring at her, touching her little face and fingers, and feeling overwhelmed with love.

She has grown into a beautiful young woman who loves the Lord. She feels strongly called into the mission field, although we don't yet know how that will manifest itself. She is loving and sweet and loyal, and going through all the turbulence involved in being a teenager. I'm still overwhelmed by this wonderful gift from God. She is everything a mother could ever want in a daughter.

Thank you, Lord.

Cancelled

Our training tomorrow has been cancelled. The trainer couldn't make it and they couldn't find a replacement. We won't have another chance to take it until October 1.

I'm pretty bummed out about it. I was already sad that we wouldn't finish training until September 12, and now we're extending it another three weeks.

I know that God is in control. My mind understands that, but my emotions are still upset. I want to bring my little girls home!

Answered Prayers

Yesterday God answered the prayers of two women, and I was one of them.

It goes like this:
A couple of nights ago, while DH and I were praying before going to sleep, I prayed that God would bring a family that needed a home to our rent house. The next day we got a call from a man with a wife and adult daughter who said they needed a place to go by this weekend. We made an appointment to show him the house at 3pm yesterday.

Then yesterday, DH got a call from a woman who lives with her husband and three children in a two bedroom apartment, and she told him that she wanted the house, but she couldn't move in until September 1. She was willing to give us the deposit on the spot if we would hold it for her. DH explained to her that we had an appointment to show it, and if they took it we would have to give it to them instead of holding it. She responded with "I'll be praying." They agreed that she would meet us at 3:30 and lease the house if the man at 3pm didn't.

So DH & I met after work at the house, and at 3:05 we got a call from the man. He explained that he needed to work on his car, and he would call back if he was still interested in seeing the house. DH told him that we had another interested party and it may not be available later. Immediately after getting off the phone with him, DH called the lady and left her a message saying, "Well, you said you'd be praying, and our 3pm cancelled!"

She arrived on the doorstep 5 minutes later saying that she'd been praying since she got off the phone with DH. She looked through the house, then pulled the deposit out of her purse and signed the papers.

It is amazing to see God answering our prayers. He brought me exactly what I asked for, someone who really needed the house, and also answered her prayers, and I'm sure that it will all work out for the best for the man too. Maybe he would have been in a terrible accident if he hadn't experienced the car trouble.

All I can say is GOD IS SO GOOD.

Home Again

We had a great time. It was so good to see my friend, and to be able to share our thoughts and feelings. DH and Son spent the whole time playing XBox Live with my friend's husband. Friend & I had fun talking and going shopping. Daughter was a little lost but Friend & I included her in most things we did. Normally Friend's husband's daughter is there to keep Daughter company, but this time she couldn't join us until the last day.

DH finished his one year bible on Monday! That is quite an accomplishment for anyone, but especially for him, because it is only the second book he has ever completed in his life. It's not that he has trouble reading, he just doesn't enjoy it. But he has now found a love for the bible that he never had before. Now that he has read it, he wants to study it more indepth. I bought him a new guide called "Men of the Bible" and he started it yesterday.

I was keeping up with him for a while with the one year bible, but I fell behind earlier this year and never caught up. I have about two months left if I read one lesson faithfully every day. Now that he has completed it, I feel even more motivated to get myself in gear and get it done.

I think that Friend & I are going to do a long distance bible study together. She has a study called "He Speaks to Me" that she hasn't started yet. It looked like a good one, and it is specifically geared toward learning to hear God's voice.

I haven't scheduled the observation time with the girls yet, but I'll be doing that soon. I have their foster mom's phone number, and I just need to get with DH to decide on a good time to do it. I wanted to get it done yesterday, but we have two empty houses to fill and that has been occupying all our waking hours. Then yesterday another tenant told us she couldn't pay. I think God is testing us!

We have training all day this coming Saturday to learn about moderate level kids. It will be more intense than we have been through so far. The basic training was heart wrenching enough, so this will probably be pretty tough.